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A few days after the incident, an investigation by the teachers revealed the mastermind of the case.
The mastermind was a middle school teacher.
He had been conducting research on magic stones at the school, but that was just his front appearance.
Behind the scenes, he was involved in research using miasma.
He succeeded in creating a clump of miasma.
But although he was able to create one by accident, it was not reproducible.
Therefore, there was no further damage and the investigation was completed.
Incidentally, this is what the teacher had to say.
“What’s wrong with using an incompetent person? I’d rather they were useful for my research!　I wish you would be grateful.”
I wish you could be grateful.
He was a mad scientist.
He doesn’t care if people die for the sake of his research.
The number of students who died in this incident was eight.
It ended up as a major incident that happened on the school grounds.
Chris-sensei didn’t seem convinced when she told me the story.
And I came to be known as the “little hero.”
I was a hero who saved the city.
Apparently, some students who were watching the event spread the word.
This is ridiculous.
I’m not happy to be celebrated like that.
“Haa…….”
In the empty classroom after homeroom, I sighed as I lay on my desk.
“What’s with the sullen look on your face? Little hero.”
Natalie called out to me.
I thought no one was around, but it seemed she was still there.
“Please don’t call me that”
I only moved my face and looked at Natalie.
“Why?　I think it’s cool.”
“I don’t like it. I didn’t do anything to deserve it.”
I don’t want them to justify what I’ve done.
I don’t want it to be easy to admit.
“Maybe you’re sad about Dominic’s death? He deserved to die.”
I stared at Natalie’s face, surprised by her words.
They had been taking classes together.
We weren’t the best of friends, and Dominic didn’t like me, but I felt it was somewhat inappropriate to say that he deserved to die.
It’s not something I can say, since I killed him.
Besides, Chris-sensei didn’t seem to be sad about Dominic’s death.
Maybe people in this world aren’t that sensitive about death.
“What are you worried about? That you killed Dominic?”
“No. …….Well, yeah.”
“You’re kind.”
“I’m not kind.
“Come on, Owen. There are some people in this world who deserve to live and some people who don’t.”
“That was unexpected.”
I sat up and waited for Natalie’s words.
“That’s what my father said, and I agree with him.”
“Isn’t that a bit extreme? Some people want people to live, even if they think they deserve to die.”
“That’s true. But that’s not what I’m trying to say here. Sometimes you have to choose between those you want to help and those you want to abandon.”
“Someone to help and someone to abandon…….?”
“As a wizard and a nobleman. As a powerful person, you’re going to have to make choices in the future.”
I realize that I have been naive in my thinking up until now.
With power comes responsibility.
It is up to the individual to decide what to do with it, but there is a responsibility for the consequences of doing so.
The power that can kill demons.
It is a power that ordinary people cannot match even if they are united.
The power to slaughter, depending on how you use it.
Having that power comes with responsibility.
It can save you or destroy you.
What do I want to be?
What does it mean to be a good wizard?
“You know, Natalie. I’ve always wanted to be a great wizard. That’s why I’ve been studying magic and will continue to do so in the future. —But this is the first time I’m afraid of this power.”
Natalie nodded as she stared into my eyes.
I continued to let out the frustration in my chest.
“I thought that learning magic was fun, and I believed that becoming strong was the key to becoming a great wizard. But I guess I was wrong. Strength alone is not enough.”
It’s important to know what you’re using magic for.
I was reminded of what Katherina-sensei had said.
If you use magic to hurt people, it will hurt you too.
Just like when you hit someone, your fist will also hurt.
Even if it’s for a good reason, it will still hurt.
I don’t want to use magic as a weapon.
“I want to be a magician who can protect the people around me. That’s who I want to be.”
There may come a time when I have to kill someone again, just like this time.
There may come a time when I have to hurt someone else.
I don’t know how I should act when I am put in such a situation.
However, I have learned something from this incident.
It’s a lot more fun to use magic that makes people happy than magic that hurts them.
It was more fun when Natalie and I flew with gravity magic.
“But I’m sure I’ll hurt people with my magic again. That’s what scares me …….”
“But you don’t hurt the people you care about, do you?”
“You might hurt others to protect the ones you care about.”
“Owen wants to be a wizard who can protect others. I think that’s fine.”
Natalie spun around.
“I’m going home first.”
She said.
As she was about to leave the classroom, she turned around.
“Hey, Owen. Don’t keep it all to yourself. Owen is too mature to try to solve everything on his own. You might be able to …… solve it, but there are people who need you to help them.”
“……Natalie.”
I look behind me at her.
Then I looked out the window at the sunset.
The sky was bright red.
When I thought about Dominic, I felt helpless.
There was nothing I could do.
Maybe I could have done something about it.
It didn’t matter how much I thought about the fact that it was over, there was no answer.
I laughed in a self-deprecating manner.